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GOD PUNISHED THE PHILISTINE CITIES
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16
1 Samuel 5

Exodus 11

 

“And the LORD
gave the people favour

in the sight of the Egyptians…”

 

GOD PUNISHED THE PHILISTINE CITIES
 
The hand of the Lord was heavy upon the city of Ashdod where the Ark was kept. It was also the centre of the worship of Dagon, the idol of the Philistines. God had to show His superiority and point out the error of the Philistines in retaining the Ark of the God of Israel in their midst. The people of the city were smitten with emerods. Like the plagues of Egypt at the beginning of the Exodus, the Lord let these people know that it was a mistake for them to keep the Ark of God in their midst. The Philistines recognised that plague as from the hand of the God of Israel. The God of Israel was referred to four times in 1 Samuel 5:7-8. They knew that the only way for them to be healed was to remove the Ark from their midst. It was a worthy witness on their part to know that they could not compare the God of Israel with their idols.
 
The Philistines were compelled to return the Ark. Initially, the people of Ashdod moved it to the city of Gath, and likewise, the people of Gath were smitten by the plague. Then they sent it to the city of Ekron, but the people of Ekron did not wait for the plague to come for they knew what had happened in the other cities. They feared and raised the alarm. At last, the Philistines agreed to return the Ark to Israel. Many of the Philistines by then had died or were smitten by emerods. It could be said here that the Ark was equivalent to thousands of well-armed soldiers who could easily win a war. The Philistines were not resistant like the Egyptians in the Exodus plagues. They initiated a means of sending the Ark back to Israel. They learned their lesson well.
 
God is sovereign and does all things after the counsel of His own will. He does not need any defence from men. He is able to speak to defend Himself. He is all powerful. He is the true God, and He is just in all His dealings. We need to know Him and His plan for our salvation. When we believe, no enemy can defeat us. The offer of salvation in Christ is our hope of freedom from sin.
 
THOUGHT: God was gracious to the unbelieving nation.
PRAYER: Father, may Thy grace abide with me that I may persevere to the end.

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